Wilson, Andrew H.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Andrew H. Wilson, one of the brightest attorneys of New Orleans, La., is a native of that city. He was born on the 8th of January, 1857, and is a son of William C. Wilson. He was educated chiefly in the public schools, and graduated from the New Orleans High school in 1875, and at once began the study of law in the office of Merrick. Race & Foster, a leading firm of that city. Admitted to the bar in 1878, Mr. Wilson immediately commenced practicing law in his native city where he has continued up to the present time, and has earned a high reputation as an attentive and well-informed attorney. In 1886 he became the partner of W. H. Foster, one of his former preceptors. and the firm of Foster & Wilson existed until 1888, when Mr. Foster died. Mr. Wilson has been very successful at the bar, and has won several important and difficult suits, giving his attention particularly to the civil law. He is a democrat in politics, and has always been a stanch advocate of his party, but has never been an advocate for office. Early in life he participated in the civil and military movements in Louisiana that led to the establishment of democratic government in that state. The only public position ever held by Mr. Wilson is that of school director, or member of the board of education of New Orleans, to which he has been several times appointed by the governors of Louisiana. In that capacity he has done much for the improvement of the public schools as an active and vigorous friend of common education. In 1888 he acted as chairman of the committee on legislation of the board, which prepared and engineered through the legislature the present educational law of the state. Under this law a civil service system of examination and appointments of teachers was introduced, and has proven a most successful innovation on old methods of appointing teachers through influence and favoritism. While serving on the committees on teachers, high and normal schools, rules and regulations and apportionment of schools funds, he has assisted in accomplishing other improvements that have been very beneficial to the schools. Mr. Wilson was one of the organizers of the Alumni society of the high schools, a very strong organization of graduates of the public schools of New Orleans, and has been an important factor in the work of this society. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Southern Athletic club, the leading organization of that character in the South. In 1882 Mt. Wilson married Miss Jennie Trott, a young lady of New Orleans. He is well and popularly known in all the relations of active life, and has done his public and private duties very creditably.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 461. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.